Noah’s comeback unqualified success

Bulls center returns and helps team beat 76ers

March 20, 2010|By K.C. Johnson, Tribune reporter

PHILADELPHIA — The intensity with which Joakim Noah devoured a pregame apple bordered on scary.

Noah's appetite extends beyond sustenance to playing time. But Saturday night, the hyperactive big man had to be content with an appetizer of 9 minutes, 22 seconds in the Bulls' 98-84 victory over the 76ers.

Noah scored seven points with four rebounds and three steals in his first action since Feb. 26, sitting with plantar fasciitis during the entire 10-game losing streak. Is it coincidence Noah played in the two victories bookending the dismal stint?

"My foot felt great," Noah deadpanned. "My lungs felt terrible."

If the Bulls' plan succeeds, Noah's minutes slowly will increase.

"We'll get him some rest and therapy and hopefully get him ready for Monday," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "You can't throw him out there and think he's going to feel great. We're going to try to build it up. He wants to be out there more. But let's see how he reacts."

Frequent fliers: The Bulls couldn't follow their typical routine for back-to-back games because their charter plane suffered mechanical problems. So instead of leaving for O'Hare from the United Center right after Friday night's game, players and team personnel were told to gather at the airport at 1 a.m.

The team eventually got to their local hotel rooms near 5:30 a.m. Del Negro canceled the standard breakfast meeting to let players sleep.

School spirit: Derrick Rose's alma mater, Simeon, played Whitney Young in the Class 4A state title game. Rose, who led Simeon to the 2006 and 2007 championships, addressed the team in person at the school before it left for Peoria.

"I still talk to the coaches and know a lot of the players so I'm still connected," Rose said.